September 2007 Archives
Here you’ll find a collection of articles published during the month of September 2007.
The Sub-PC
By Michael Mace on September 20, 2007
The cancellation of the Palm Foleo marks the latest in a long string of failed attempts to create a market for keyboard-based devices that are smaller, simpler, and cheaper than personal computers. Computer companies have been trying to make sub-PCs work since the 1980s, but the only place they have been a major success is in Japan, where the complexities of typing in Japanese encouraged many people to buy cheap word processors instead of typewriters.
What’s your Company’s Arrogance Quotient?
By Harry Max on September 19, 2007
I don’t know anybody who likes being called arrogant. Yet, recently, it happened to me. And I found myself experiencing four parts of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s stages of death:
This got me to thinking. What is arrogance? What is corporate arrogance? And other than being somewhat irritating, is it really a problem?
Striking Gold: The Top Five Myths about the Small Business Market
By Bruce LaFetra on September 18, 2007
To many companies, the small and medium business (SMB) market represents the golden vein of market opportunity. Compared to the Fortune 1000 with—that’s right, still 1000 companies—SMB is a huge market with 8 million traditional businesses (plus another 32.5 million home-based businesses). The market is so big and seemingly inviting that the long string of previous failures just adds to the appeal. With so many big software and hardware companies targeting the SMB market, including some of our clients, this is a great time to take a look at some of the popular myths surrounding it.
Old School. New School. And How They Relate to Marketing
By Nilofer Merchant on September 18, 2007
We all want to be new school and know that the latest top hit song (via iTunes) is a song called SOS by Jonas Brothers. I had to look that up. Because what I pay attention to the most are things I already love. While I’d like to be super hip, the songs that run through my head are more like “The Way We Were” if I’m feeling melancholy, “Sweet Home Alabama” if I feel good, or Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” if I feel, ya know, sassy.
What does this have to do with marketing, you ask?
Aptitude vs. Attitude: HP Knows it Takes Consistency
By Marsha Keeffer on September 17, 2007
HP watchers have been on quite a ride over the past few years. It’s been full of thrills, change, some major bumps, and, finally, a financial performance that has shareholders applauding. How did they get to this point? There are many explanations, but I like the contribution that consistent product messaging has made to their new situation.